Annual FCC Regulatory Fees

Most federal licensees and other regulated entities must pay regulatory fees to offset costs associated with the FCC's enforcement, public service, international, policy, and rulemaking activities. Fee amounts change each year and vary by type of activity. Of particular interest is the Interstate Telecommunications Service Provider Fee which must be paid by most companies, including VoIP providers and audio bridging providers.

Regulatory fees must be paid no later than 11:59 PM on September 20, 2013, Eastern Daylight Time. Regardless of how fees are paid, i.e., online, wire transfer, check, etc., payment must be received at the Commission's St. Louis, Missouri address by the date and time above. Failure to meet the payment deadline will result in late payment penalties of 25% being applied. The FCC does not waive late payment penalties.

Fact sheets detailing the types of fees, fee codes and payment methods and options can be found on the FCC's website.

The Commission will not issue bills for the regulatory fees and it is the licensee's responsibility to determine the fees owed (regardless of the amount posted on the Fee Filer system). All licensees and regulatees must utilize the FCC's Fee Filer system to coordinate paying any fees. Only Form 159-E vouchers generated from the Fee Filer system will be accepted with regulatory fee payments that are not made online. Fee Filer is now available for payment of 2013 regulatory fees and it can be found here.

Please be advised that attorneys in Kelley Drye & Warren's Communications practice group are experienced in addressing Federal Communications Commission reporting issues and are able to assist clients in paying regulatory fees. For information on the fee amount applicable to your company, please feel free to contact us.

For further information on any of these filings, please contact John Heitmann at (202) 342-8544, Denise Smith at (202) 342-8614 or your usual Kelley Drye attorney.